---
title: QuickStart
description: Get started with Jan and start chatting with AI in minutes.
keywords:
  [
    Jan,
    local AI,
    LLM,
    chat,
    threads,
    models,
    download,
    installation,
    conversations,
  ]
---

import { Callout, Steps } from 'nextra/components'
import { SquarePen, Pencil, Ellipsis, Paintbrush, Trash2, Settings } from 'lucide-react'

# QuickStart

Get up and running with Jan in minutes. This guide will help you install Jan, download a model, and start chatting immediately.

<Steps>

### Step 1: Install Jan

1. [Download Jan](/download)
2. Install the app ([Mac](/docs/desktop/install/mac), [Windows](/docs/desktop/install/windows), [Linux](/docs/desktop/install/linux))
3. Launch Jan

### Step 2: Download Jan v1

We recommend starting with **Jan v1**, our 4B parameter model optimized for reasoning and tool calling:

1. Go to the **Hub Tab**
2. Search for **Jan v1**
3. Choose a quantization that fits your hardware:
   - **Q4_K_M** (2.5 GB) - Good balance for most users
   - **Q8_0** (4.28 GB) - Best quality if you have the RAM
4. Click **Download**

![Download Jan v1](./_assets/download_janv1.png)

<Callout type="info">
Jan v1 achieves 91.1% accuracy on SimpleQA and excels at tool calling, making it perfect for web search and reasoning tasks.
</Callout>

### Step 3: Start Chatting

1. Click **New Chat** (<SquarePen width={16} height={16} style={{display:"inline"}}/>) icon
2. Select your model in the input field dropdown
3. Type your message and start chatting

![Create New Thread](./_assets/jan_loaded.png)

Try asking Jan v1 questions like:
- "Explain quantum computing in simple terms"
- "Help me write a Python function to sort a list"
- "What are the pros and cons of electric vehicles?"

<Callout type="tip">
**Want to give Jan v1 access to current web information?** Check out our [Serper MCP tutorial](/docs/desktop/mcp-examples/search/serper) to enable real-time web search with 2,500 free searches!
</Callout>

</Steps>

## Managing Conversations

Jan organizes conversations into threads for easy tracking and revisiting.

### View Chat History

- **Left sidebar** shows all conversations
- Click any chat to open the full conversation
- **Favorites**: Pin important threads for quick access
- **Recents**: Access recently used threads

![Favorites and Recents](./_assets/threads-favorites-and-recents-updated.png)

### Edit Chat Titles

1. Hover over a conversation in the sidebar
2. Click **three dots** (<Ellipsis width={16} height={16} style={{display:"inline"}}/>) icon
3. Click <Pencil width={16} height={16} style={{display:"inline"}}/> **Rename**
4. Enter new title and save

![Context Menu](./_assets/threads-context-menu-updated.png)

### Delete Threads

<Callout type="warning">
Thread deletion is permanent. No undo available.
</Callout>

**Single thread:**
1. Hover over thread in sidebar
2. Click **three dots** (<Ellipsis width={16} height={16} style={{display:"inline"}}/>) icon
3. Click <Trash2 width={16} height={16} style={{display:"inline"}}/> **Delete**

**All threads:**
1. Hover over `Recents` category
2. Click **three dots** (<Ellipsis width={16} height={16} style={{display:"inline"}}/>) icon
3. Select <Trash2 width={16} height={16} style={{display:"inline"}}/> **Delete All**

## Advanced Features

### Custom Assistant Instructions

Customize how models respond:

1. Use the assistant dropdown in the input field
2. Or go to the **Assistant tab** to create custom instructions
3. Instructions work across all models

![Assistant Instruction](./_assets/assistant-dropdown.png)

![Add an Assistant Instruction](./_assets/assistant-edit-dialog.png)

### Model Parameters

Fine-tune model behavior:
- Click the **Gear icon** next to your model
- Adjust parameters in **Assistant Settings**
- Switch models via the **model selector**

![Chat with a Model](./_assets/model-parameters.png)

### Connect Cloud Models (Optional)

Connect to OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq, Mistral, and others:

1. Open any thread
2. Select a cloud model from the dropdown
3. Click the **Gear icon** beside the provider
4. Add your API key (ensure sufficient credits)

![Connect Remote APIs](./_assets/quick-start-03.png)

For detailed setup, see [Remote APIs](/docs/desktop/remote-models/openai).
